“Stomp”

Cade Slattery and Ivan Salazar were still young kids when they decided to heed the beat of a different drummer — in about as literal a way as you can imagine. The two performers and former locals are now key cast members of “Stomp,” the percussion-centric stage phenomenon that gets its ensemble pounding on everything from trash cans and steel pipes to giant inner tubes and their own bodies. But it all started when they happily found themselves in the orbit of Chris Rubio, the longtime East County percussion czar who has shepherded legions of upstart drummers through his Junior Crew, part of Rubio’s wide-ranging Arts in Motion organization. Their experiences a decade or so ago with that troupe and with Rubio, a longtime “Stomp” performer and the show’s former rehearsal director, have taken the two friends on a path has included long stints with both the show’s off-Broadway production and its touring version. And now they make a long-awaited homecoming, as the “Stomp” road show lands at San Diego’s Balboa Theatre this week for its first local visit in some seven years. JAMES HEBERT

Spring Busker Festival

Contortionists, stuntmen, circus troupes and comedians from around the country will shock and awe audiences this weekend at the 12th annual Spring Busker Festival. What’s a busker? Buskers are street performers recognized for their unusual acts. Throughout the day, you’ll see everything from sword swallowing and fire breathing to pogo stick tricks and juggling on unicycles. For adults looking for a little extra action, Buskers After Dark will take place on Saturday from 7 to 10 p.m. Catered for the 18-plus crowd, this untamed show features edgier, adult humor, surrounded by a party scene with a DJ, food and beer specials. Though the shows are free, the performers all work for tips, so be sure to have some dollar bills on hand. CAROLINA GUSMAN

Koi Club of San Diego Koi Show

Hundreds of sparkling, colorful koi will be on display in one of the largest shows on the West Coast. The 31st annual exhibition will feature koi — this variety of carp can live for more than 100 years — measuring anywhere from 6 inches to 3 feet long. At this annual show, learn how to make your backyard into a tropical home for koi and how to build a koi pond and waterfall, see koi of all sizes, and get a look at art and T-shirts inspired by the fish. LISA DEADERICK

Like the pages of a child’s coloring book, the Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch come alive each spring with bursts of vibrantly colored blooms. For 10 weeks — March 1 through May 13 — 10 million giant Tecolote ranunculus plants beckon visitors to explore the 50-acre working farm that produces about 70 million flowers before season’s end. The ranunculus flowers are the show-stoppers, but the farm also offers visitors an array of family-friendly activities. CAROLINA GUSMAN

Finish Chelsea’s Run 5K Run/Walk

6:30 to 11 a.m. Saturday. West side of Balboa Park, near Sixth Avenue and Olive Street (starting line is at SixthAvenue and Palm Street; finish line is at Balboa Drive south of Quince Street), San Diego. $10-$50. chelseaslight.org

Since 2010, supporters and runners have gathered to complete the run started by Chelsea King, a high school student and athlete who was killed that year while in the middle of her training routine. Today, it’s an annual event hosted by the Chelsea’s Light Foundation. The 5K event — in partnership with Girl Scouts San Diego — funds the foundation’s Sunflower Scholarship Fund, which provides college scholarships for teens who share Chelsea’s academic and personal characteristics. After the race, there will be a family festival with refreshments and an inspiration wall where people can write messages. Participants can also decorate a sunflower pot, listen to music and visit booths. (With the exception of service animals, pets will not be allowed on the race course.) LISA DEADERICK

When San Diego filmmaker Jodi Cilley was teaching in local colleges, she saw her students produce excellent work. Later – to her dismay – she would see these promising creators of cinema working at Rite Aid and other retail stores. “I was watching students coming out of college programs and having nowhere to go,” Cilley said, explaining why she founded the San Diego Film Consortium in 2012. “That was the spark.” The fruits of her labor culminate in the second annual San Diego Film Week, which starts Friday. Stretching over two weekends, through March 11, it is sponsored by the consortium and its local partners, including film festivals, media-related nonprofits and colleges. SDFW will screen local films and selections from other festivals, as well as provide workshops and panels. BETH WOOD

“The Cake”

Well before the year is out, the U.S. Supreme Court is likely to hand down a ruling in the case of a Colorado baker who refused to make a cake for a same-sex couple’s wedding reception. The verdict on “The Cake,” Bekah Brunstetter’s play that pivots on a similar story? The La Jolla Playhouse show is a witty exploration of the clashing beliefs that animate the debate over religious opposition to gay rights. It’s not the whole story, of course, but the playwright’s sense of humanity shines through in her saga of a down-home Southern cake artist whose loyalties (and conscience) are torn between a longtime friendship and her church. JAMES HEBERT

When the first Brasil Jazz Festa was held in San Diego a decade ago, it was a tribute concert saluting the music of leading Brazilian guitarist Chico Pinheiro. When the 10th annual edition of the festival is held Sunday at the all-ages Dizzy’s, Pinheiro himself will headline. Critically acclaimed for his command of various jazz and Brazilian music traditions, he shines on both acoustic and electric guitars, whether leading his own bands, performing solo or collaborating with fellow six-string virtuosos. GEORGE VARGA